The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-14
BILL HlCKoK,s RoMANCE.
The One Love az His Life--How He Fig
urcd the Chances or His Death.

The One Love az Hls Life-How He Fig
urcd the Chances OF HIS Death.
"About year before he died met
wild Bill Hickok on train ON this
road. SAID Luther Latin Mills. as we
were borne southwark over the Chicago
u Alton road one afternoon last week.
''Bl and had an entire slccping-car
To ourselves from K,nsas City 10 Chi
cage. When | introduced myself to
ham was little surprised and quite
pleased to learn of his identity. He was
/, n tinc-looking man, past 40 years of age.
with remarkab lc eyes quick and rest
less MS a grayhound's, bright and clear.
and the color of cold, blue STEEL He
was II vain fellow. and justly proud of
his hands, which were small, white, and
shapely.
''Of course | talked to him about him
self. asked him how many men he
had killed. He replied that he had
killed thirty-two in private fights,
and he didn't know how many he had
killed in the war of the rebellion and in
frontier skirmislies. He related many
of his shooting experiences. and added,
imprcsslvely, that he had never killed
man unjuslly-ihat in his fights he had
always been in the right. said Ger.
tainly. Mr.. Hickok; | had no doubt of
it, You can readily see that did not
care TO take issue with him OH that
| question.
HE said he was born and raised in
La Sale county, Illinois, and had gone
west when he was u young man, twenty
five wears before. He was Mt the time
/ marshal of Abilene, Kan, very bad
town, where he had in his official ad-
ministration. killed six men in rs many
months. He was compelled to do this,
! he SAID. to restore order, as the cow
boys had taken possession of the town,
and tho good people Of Abilene had
made him marshal, knowing that he
loved peace and would nave it.
ii asked him if no had ever visited
Chicago. He said he had, few years
before our meeting. and then he told me
the one gentle romance of his life.
Gen. Phil Sheridan ami party had
engaged Bill rs guide on a buffalo
hunting expedition. Sheridan took
liking to Bill and insisted upon his re-
turning TO Chicago with him and max
ing visit Bill came, and remained
for some time ut Sheridan's house. The
first Sunday after ! got to Chicago
said Bill, Sheridan said to me that he
was going to church and would like to
have me 60 along. said hadn't
been to church for twenty years. but I'd
just as lief 90. So we went to tho Ply
mouth church, down on Wabash or
Michigan avenue. The feller at the
door knew Sheridan, and he took us
away up in front, near the preacher.
About the time the sermon began an
old, whitc-haired man and young wo-
man came into the pew in front of us.
could sec only the side of the woman's
| face, but felt sure knew her. l didn't
hear the sermon at all; just kept look
ing at the young woman all the time,
with strange sort of feeling as if was
haunted. and my thoughts kept going
back to when was boy down IN LA
Sale county.
"'Well, when we all got up to receive
the bcnediction 1 saw the young wo-
mans face, and my heart come right
up into my neck, for knew her. There
was the only woman l ever loved, and
/ had loved her evor since was boy,
down in La Sale county. She was
Maria Baldwin. and the old man with
her was her father. Herman Baldwin.
I won't toll you why didn't marry her,
but ing love for her was one of the rea-
sons why went out west.
"'When | saw her face and knew
who she was just bolted down the
aisle and out of church, and stood guard
at the door. waiting for her. When she
come out went up TO her and said:
"Maria, do you know me?' She looked
ut me minute. and said:
"'"No. sir, do not"
lowell" said :. kinda bracing up.
IL am Willie Hckok."
"'Wcll, you should-a seen her. The
tears came in her eyes, and she took my
hand in both of hcrs'and held it. She
told the old man who was, and the
old man said Why, Bill, is that youP''
and he shook my hand and was glad to
see me. Then both of them insisted on
my going 10 dinner with them, and 1
went. We talked all afternoon and
away into the night about Old times
down in La Sale county, and tell you
1t was the happiest day in my life. But
couldn't stand it to stay in Chicago
any longer, and started for The west
the next day.
II was much interested in this story"
resumed Mr.. Mills, '.for / knew Mr..
Baldwin. and felt more kindly toward
Wild Bill. | asked him if he expected
to return TO the west after his visit to
Chicago. lie said he did. and that
when he left me he would bid me good
by forever He had great many des-
pcratc enemies, and from his calcula-
ton of the law OF chances he could not
live more than a year. He expected to
be shot and to die with his boots on.
Sure enough. within ten months of the
time | met him on the train he was shot
in the back and killed in saloon out
west. - Chicdd0 Neacs.